Denis Coderre marks Hiroshima anniversary in Japan

As part of his official visit to Japan Mayor Denis Coderre became an honorary citizen of Hiroshima.

He'll be taking part in memorial ceremonies marking the 69th anniversary of the US atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

Mayor Kazumi Matsui called on U.S. President Barack Obama and other world leaders to visit the city to see the scars of the atomic bombing first hand.

About 45,000 people attended Wednesday's ceremony in Hiroshima's peace park near the epicenter of the 1945 attack that killed up to 140,000 people. The bombing of Nagasaki three days
later killed another 70,000, prompting Japan's surrender.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that as the sole country to face nuclear attack, Japan has the duty to seek to eliminate nuclear weapons.

The anniversary comes as Japan is divided over Abe's recent Cabinet decision to allow the country's military to defend foreign countries and play greater roles overseas.

Last night, here in Montreal the Peace Bell at the Botanical gardens sounded at exactly 7:15 p.m. corresponding to the time when the bomb was dropped.